ReviewThe Journal of physiology2008
Human tendon behaviour and adaptation, in vivo.
Review in The Journal of physiology, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 112 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Healing of Human Achilles Tendon Rupture: Loading Pattern After Surgical Repair to Achieve Optimal Mechanical Properties and Clinical Outcome
Short-term Effects on the Patellar Tendon After Low-load Blood-flow Restriction Training Versus High-load Conventional Training. Randomized Clinical Trial.
Who cites it
112 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 319 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mechanisms Underlying Range of Motion Improvements Following Acute and Chronic Static Stretching: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Multivariate Meta-regression.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Exercise Treatments with or without Adjuncts for Common Lower Limb Tendinopathies: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2023Pooled it
- Resistance Training Induces Improvements in Range of Motion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2023Pooled it
- Chronic Adaptations to Eccentric Training: A Systematic Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2017Pooled it
- Effects of Increased Loading on In Vivo Tendon Properties: A Systematic Review.Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2015Pooled it
- Active versus passive rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair: clinical outcomes and shear wave elastography monitoring in a randomized pilot study.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2026Trial
- Trial
- How do elite cross-country skiers adapt to different double poling frequencies at low to high speeds?European journal of applied physiology · 2011Trial
- Macroscale and microscale mechanical and biochemical properties of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon are regionally dependent.American journal of veterinary research · 2026Article
- Exploring Variable Achilles Tendon Loading Via Active Acoustics.IEEE sensors journal · 2026Article
- Reconstruction of Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures with Hamstring Autografts: Plantar Flexor Strength Is Preserved Despite Shortening of the Moment Arm.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Impact of COVID-19 on patellar tendon properties over the first year after infection.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Biomechanical and movement-quality predictors of lower-limb load-related injury in collegiate athletes: a prospective cohort study using functional movement screening, wearable inertial sensing, and explainable machine learning.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Comparing the expression patterns and differences of LOX and LOXL1 during the development of myodural bridge and ligamentum flavum.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026Article
- Development of the Muscular and Skeletal System During Adolescence.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- The LINC Complex Regulates Tendon Elastic Modulus, Collagen Crimp, and Lateral Expansion During Early Postnatal Development.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025Article
- Criteria-Based Decision Making for Introducing Open Kinetic Chain Exercise after-ACL Reconstruction: A Scoping Review.Sports medicine - open · 2025Review
- Impact of Pitching on Infraspinatus Muscle Elasticity in High School Baseball Pitchers: A Continuous Shear Wave Elastography Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The Structure, Function, and Adaptation of Lower-Limb Aponeuroses: Implications for Myo-Aponeurotic Injury.Sports medicine - open · 2024Review
- Effect of joint angle positioning on shearwave speed and variability with ultrasound shearwave elastography in asymptomatic Achilles and patellar tendons.Journal of biomechanics · 2024Article
52 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Tendon properties contribute to the complex interaction of the central nervous system, muscle-tendon unit and bony structures to produce joint movement. Until recently limited information on human tendon behaviour in vivo was available; however, novel methodological advancements have enabled new insights to be gained in this area. The present review summarizes the progress made with respect to human tendon and aponeurosis function in vivo, and how tendons adapt to ageing, loading and unloading conditions. During low tensile loading or with passive lengthening not only the muscle is elongated, but also the tendon undergoes significant length changes, which may have implications for reflex responses. During active loading, the length change of the tendon far exceeds that of the aponeurosis, indicating that the aponeurosis may more effectively transfer force onto the tendon, which lengthens and stores elastic energy subsequently released during unloading, in a spring-like manner. In fact, data recently obtained in vivo confirm that, during walking, the human Achilles tendon provides elastic strain energy that can decrease the energy cost of locomotion. Also, new experimental evidence shows that, contrary to earlier beliefs, the metabolic activity in human tendon is remarkably high and this affords the tendon the ability to adapt to changing demands. With ageing and disuse there is a reduction in tendon stiffness, which can be mitigated with resistance exercises. Such adaptations seem advantageous for maintaining movement rapidity, reducing tendon stress and risk of injury, and possibly, for enabling muscles to operate closer to the optimum region of the length-tension relationship.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.